Road rules and safety

Freeways

Ensure you’re driving safely and following rules on freeways.

Merge safely onto freeways

The rules for merging onto a freeway are the same as for changing lanes on any road:

  • Use the entrance ramp to reach the freeway speed. Merge at the same speed as the freeway traffic.
  • Indicate early so other drivers know what you’re doing. Give way to traffic you’re merging into.
  • Find a gap in the traffic before you merge. Check your blind spots and watch out for motorcycles.
  • Merge smoothly and safely into the lane when you see a gap. 

Keep to the left

When driving on any multi-lane road with a speed limit over 80km/h, you must keep out of the right lane unless either:

  • you are overtaking or turning right
  • all lanes are congested.

If the right lane is a transit lane, this rule applies to the lane immediately to the left of the transit lane. 

Transit and express lanes

Some freeways and highways have express lanes or transit lanes, as shown on signs.

Transit lane

Transit lanes can be used by:

  • public buses
  • public minibuses
  • motorcycles
  • taxis
  • trams
  • vehicles with two people (T2) or three people (T3), depending on signage
  • vehicles approaching a turn, for up to 100 metres.  

Transit lanes are marked with transit lane signs. 

Express lanes

Some toll roads paint ‘EL’ on the road to show it is an express lane.  

Express lanes are not a road rule. They are managed by the toll road operator. Contact them for more information about express lanes on their roads. 

Only stop in an emergency

You can’t stop on a freeway unless it is an emergency. Use the emergency lane if you need to stop.

Buses and taxis can drive in the emergency stopping lane if a sign says they can. No other vehicles can drive in the emergency stopping lane. 

Overhead lane signals

Some freeways have electronic signs above the lanes.

If the sign shows a red cross, don’t drive in that lane.

If the sign shows an arrow pointing down, or a speed limit sign, you can use that lane. 

Rules for freeways

The rules for freeways are in Parts 11 to 12 of the Road Safety Road Rules 2017:

  • Rule 130 - Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
  • Rule 148 - Giving way when moving from one marked lane or line of traffic to another marked lane or line of traffic
  • Rule 152 - Complying with overhead lane control devices
  • Rule 177 - Stopping on a freeway  
  • Rule 178 - Stopping in an emergency stopping lane.